Other Financial Accountability Study

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Action Plan for Strengthening Financial Services Consumer Protection in Azerbaijan
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2009-12) Prouza, Tomáš; Mundy, Shaun; Izaguirre, Juan C.
This Action Plan is based on the World Bank’s Technical Note on Consumer Protection and Financial Literacy in Azerbaijan published in June 2009. The Action Plan focuses on the Legal and Regulatory Issues of the Technical Note’s Key Findings and Recommendations, proposing specific actions for Azerbaijani authorities, financial institutions and consumer organizations so that consumer protection is strengthened and made more effective and efficient. The Action Plan should be the base upon which specific legal changes should be drafted and against which their implementation should be evaluated. Beside the Technical Note itself, the Action Plan draws on best international practices and experiences of regulators and supervisors that have tried to introduce improved consumer protection in their countries. It should also be noted that a well-balanced consumer protection regime serves also the interest of financial institutions as it provides them with better informed clients and also makes sure that clients understand their obligations under the contracts they signed. The Action Plan is divided into five parts that cover the key areas based on the recommendations of the Technical Note: (a) Legal Mandate, (b) Effective Supervision and Regulation, (c) Disclosure of Information, (d) Business Practices, and (e) Dispute Resolution.
Russian Federation Diagnostic Review of Consumer Protection in Financial Services: Comparison against Good Practices
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2009-07) World Bank
Over the last decade, consumer credit in the Russian Federation has expanded from almost nothing to 9.2 percent of GDP in 2008, at 84 percent average annual growth in 2003-2008 year for five years. Yet, the increases have been uneven throughout the Russian population: more than 40 percent are still financially excluded and only 16 percent have bank accounts. A 2008 survey found that Russian consumers had low levels of financial literacy and lacked awareness of their rights as financial consumers. Three-quarters of the survey's respondents said they would like to receive financial education in order to protect themselves financially and plan for the future. Similar trends of the booming credit markets amid significant gaps in financial literacy around the world have contributed to the global financial crisis of 2008 and emphasized the importance of consumer protection and financial education programs for the long-term health of the financial sector. Responding to a request from Russian authorities, the World Bank conducted a diagnostic review to help Russia design an effective consumer protection and financial literacy framework. This review, presented in two volumes, outlines the key findings and recommendations in Volume I, and analyzes the existing rules and practices in Russia, in comparison with international good practices – in Volume II. Banking, non-bank credit, securities, insurance, private pensions, and credit reporting segments are covered.
Morocco - Public Financial Management Performance Report (PEFA) : Assessment of Public Financial Management Systems, Procedures, and Institutions
(World Bank, 2009-05-01) World Bank
This Public Financial Management Performance Report (PFM-PR) assesses the current performance of financial management in Morocco's public sector. The Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) framework applied for this review uses an assessment tool based on a set of high-level indicators that provide reliable information on the performance of PFM systems, processes and institutions. The purpose of using this tool is to measure performance for five PFM areas in Morocco as compared to international standards. The Kingdom of Morocco is a medium-income country with a population of 31 million and per capita income of European Union (EU) 2,300 (2007). Average life expectancy has significantly improved to 72.4 years in 2007, reflecting a progressive improvement in living standards. Nonetheless, major social challenges remain, in particular the economic insecurity of a large segment of its residents. Despite a considerable improvement in poverty indicators during this century (the incidence of poverty fell from 15.3 percent in 2001 to 9 percent in 2007), more than a quarter of the population in 2007 remained economically vulnerable. The report covers public expenditure at the central government level, including central government's financial relationships with local and regional governments and with public enterprises (PE). Morocco has a relatively large public sector that accounts for 53 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) (2007), comparable to that for other Magreb countries.
Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism : Honduras
(Washington, DC, 2009) World Bank
This Report provides a summary of the level of compliance with the Financial Action Task Force, and provides recommendations to improve compliance within the prevailing context of Honduras. The views expressed in this document are those of the assessment team and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Government of Honduras or the Boards of the World Bank (WB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF). Honduras has set up a number of the fundamental components of an anti-money laundering (AML) regime, through various legislative and regulatory instruments and an institutional framework which includes law enforcement, prosecution, and supervisory bodies. While progress has been made, key changes are needed to laws and regulations in order for Honduras to have more effective money laundering and financing of terrorism regime. There is a lack of strategic direction and coordination among the participants. A focal point and coordination body needs to be established, involving senior representatives of all the entities involved in anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing to ensure the most effective and efficient collaboration of the initiative, and to ensure that necessary policy, regulatory and legislative measures can be expeditiously developed, approved and implemented and that initiative wide statistics on workload, performance and results are collected and shared.
Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism : Mali
(GIABA and the World Bank, Washington, DC, 2008-09-18) World Bank
This assessment of the Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML-CFT) regime in Mali was conducted on the basis of the Forty Recommendations of 2003 and the Nine Special Recommendations on the financing of terrorism drawn up in 2003 and 2001, respectively, by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), and on the AML-CFT Methodology of 2004. The assessment was based on the laws, regulations, and other materials supplied by community institutions (in particular the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), the Banking Commission of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (BC-WAEMU) and the Inter-ministerial Group for Action Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA)) and by the national authorities of Mali, as well as the information gathered in the course of the country visit from February 4 to 14, 2008. During its visit, the assessment team met with the managers and representatives of all the relevant government agencies and the private sector. This report provides a summary of the AML/CFT measures in force in Mali as at the date of the on-site visit or immediately thereafter. It describes and analyzes those measures, and makes recommendations on how certain aspects of the system could be strengthened. It also sets out Mali's level of compliance with the FATF 40+9 Recommendations.
Country Insurance : Reducing Systemic Vulnerabilities in Latin America and the Caribbean
(Washington, DC, 2008-03) World Bank
This study begins from the premise that output and consumption are more volatile and prone to sharp contractions in developing than in high-income economies. This suggests that developing countries are somehow "underinsured" and may thus need to invest more in "country insurance" policies. To shed some light on this issue, the author begin by providing in the first chapter evidence of the excessive volatility faced by developing countries in general (and Latin American and Caribbean, LAC, countries in particular) and then discuss some of the welfare costs associated with such volatility. In second chapter, the author focus on the main trade-offs and on the strategic choices confronted by developing countries if they decide to increase their resilience to external shocks. Finally, in the third chapter, the author look at different policy options, focusing on how the international financial institutions (IFIs) in general and the World Bank in particular can help developing countries' reduce their vulnerability to external shocks. While excessive volatility in developing countries affects both government and the private sectors, this study limits its focus to the government sector. The private sector challenges will be addressed in future research.
Colombia : Bank Financing to Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Colombia
(Washington, DC, 2007-12) World Bank
Small-and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) represent an important part of the Colombian economy, although they are not well documented in official statistics. In particular, there does not exist sufficient periodic data as to their characteristics, evolution, or overall contribution to the economy - in most cases, SMEs tend to be bundled together with micro enterprises in official statistics. The true size of the market is understated due to informality. Lack of access to finance has been cited as an important problem in recent surveys. However, there are significant differences in perceptions as to the size and causes of the financing gap. While there is strong evidence to support its existence following the 1999 crisis, the significant growth of this market in recent years raises some questions as to whether such perceptions remain valid. One of the lessons of the last few years is that banks will expand SME lending on their own accord - in spite of the presence of important constraints - when they perceive the attractiveness of this market and have begun to saturate easier (in terms of business model) market segments such as corporate and consumer lending. However, in order to ensure the sustainable growth of this market, continued strong macroeconomic performance and a stable and consistent policy framework in the financial sector have been identified as important considerations.
Indonesia - Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability : Public Financial Management Performance Report and Performance Indicators
(Washington, DC, 2007-10-31) World Bank
The Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) assessment for Indonesia was undertaken by a team of World Bank staff and consultants with close involvement of counterparts from the Government of Indonesia. The PEFA measurement framework has been developed after wide consultations with a group of donors, client countries, and international professional organizations. It provides an integrated, standardized, and indicator-led methodology to measure and monitor Public Financial Management (PFM) performance over time. Its objective is to help assess the performance of PFM systems, processes, and institutions in each country and provides broad measures of PFM performance relative to system characteristics. The scoring methodology, covering a set of thirty one high level indicators, emphasizes empirical and observable scores for each PFM area based on internationally recognized good practice. The framework was not designed to rank countries by means of an overall aggregate score for each country. The PFM performance report which supports the scores and brings together an analytical summary is not meant to judge policy actions of government nor provide explicit recommendations, but instead to support a strengthened approach to PFM reforms by facilitating dialogue between government and other stakeholders on PFM reforms.
Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism : Republic of Uganda
(Washington, DC, 2007-08) World Bank
This assessment of the anti-money laundering (AML) and combating the financing of terrorism (CFT) regime of Uganda was based on the 2003 Forty Recommendations on Money Laundering and the Nine Special Recommendations on Terrorist Financing of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) (FATF 40+9), and was prepared using the AML/CFT Methodology of 2004. During the mission, the assessment team met with officials and representatives of relevant government agencies and the private sector. This report provides a summary of the AML/CFT measures in place in Uganda as of the date of completion of the on-site the mission, February 23. 2005. After describing and analyzing those measures, it provides recommendations on how certain aspects of the system could be strengthened. It also sets out Uganda s levels of compliance with the FATF 40+9 Recommendations.
Maldives - Public Sector Accounting and Auditing : A Comparison to International Standards
(Washington, DC, 2007-06) World Bank
This assessment of public sector accounting and auditing standards purpose is to assist with the implementation of more effective public financial management (PFM) through better quality accounting and public audit processes in Maldives. The specific objectives are (a) to provide the country's accounting and audit authorities and other interested stakeholders with a common well-based knowledge as to where local practices stand in comparison with internationally developed standards of financial reporting and audit; (b) to assess the prevailing variances; (c) to chart paths to reduce the variances; and (d) to provide a continuing basis for measuring improvements. Annex A explains the methodology used for the study. Annex B provides a summary of international accounting and auditing standards referred to in this study. Annex C and D provide country accounting and auditing legislation, respectively. Lastly, Annex E includes a description of the benefits of accrual accounting.